(NEXSTAR) – The U.S. is seeing a post-Thanksgiving spike in influenza, data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday shows.
The country saw an 8% increase in people testing positive for the flu virus last week, according to the CDC. An estimated 2.9 million people have gotten sick so far this season and about 1,200 people have died.
Several states have also moved up into the CDC’s higher tiers for flu activity level. As of Dec. 6, the latest available national data show that Colorado, New Jersey, New York, and Louisiana are experiencing “high” transmission of the virus.
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Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, Michigan, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas and Puerto Rico also saw an increase in the spread of the virus, landing them in the “moderate” tier…